The holiday has been controversial practically since its inception
Attempts to restrict what kids in school can read are on the rise. But American book banning started with the Puritans, 140 years before the United States
Untold Stories of American History
Rival athletes trampled Jack Trice during his "first real college game." He died two days later at age 21
Columbus became Columbus in the American Revolution—when the colonials sought out an origin story that didn’t involve the British
The Puritans outlawed Thomas Morton's "New English Canaan" because it was critical of the society they were building in colonial New England
The first of these festivals debuted in the early 1960s, serving as a prime example of the United States' burgeoning counterculture
![“Had it not been for the testament given [to] him by Mr. Foster, which received a second bullet, I doubt if you would have ever seen him again,” wrote journalist Benjamin Perley Poore in a letter to Merrill's father.](jpg/merrill.jpg)
Untold Stories of American History
In 1863, a New Testament tucked in the pocket of Union soldier Charles W. Merrill prevented a musket ball from mortally wounding him
The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, celebrates 100 years
Untold Stories of American History
In 1873, greed, speculation and overinvestment in railroads sparked a financial crisis that sank the U.S. into more than five years of misery
Today, they rank at the top of lists of U.S. states most at risk from climate change
The intrepid Victorian-era author proved that a lady’s life could be in the mountains, and I am forever grateful for that
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Travel the country's beautiful natural wonders from home with these breathtaking highlights from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Few realize that the approval process for these outdoor signs varies widely by state and organization, enabling unsanctioned displays to slip through
Learn about the accomplishments of the Black Americans who served their country abroad, even as they faced discrimination at home
Older, but by no means wiser, the political cartoon character symbolized a mischievous young nation
One act of generosity during the Great Famine forged a bond that transcends generations
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
During World War II, the OSS sent Moe Berg to Europe, where he gathered intel on Germany's efforts to build an atomic bomb
The forgotten figure symbolized the hopes—and myths—of the early United States
The draft on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture was produced a few hours before King took to the podium
Page 3 of 158
